Driven by a lifelong passion for football, 70-year-old Abdul Ali Miya has created a unique piece of wooden art. He has crafted a majestic 7-foot by 8-foot royal bed from teak wood. The bed is designed in the shape of the FIFA World Cup trophy.
Abdul Ali, a timber merchant by profession and son of the late Abdul Aziz Miya, lives in Charlakshipur Taltola village under Ward No 7 of Rajbari Municipality.
In his youth, he played football on various grounds, including Rajbari’s historic Railway field, District Stadium and College Para field, as well as village grounds in Bohorpur and Sonapur. Although age has prevented him from taking to the pitch today, his devotion to the sport remains strong.
To give tangible form to his enduring love for the game, Abdul Ali undertook the construction of the unique bed. The project cost approximately Tk4.5 lakh and took four months of continuous day-and-night work alongside four master carpenters.
After completing his daily business duties, he now rests on the massive bed every day with his young grandchild, finding the joy and contentment of his youth once again.
As news of the bed spread, curious local residents and visitors began gathering daily at Abdul Ali’s home to see the artwork.
Md Masud Miya, a neighbour from Taltola village, said Abdul Ali had been passionate about football since childhood. However, he said, demonstrating that love in old age by carving a World Cup trophy from wood was beyond expectations.
He described the bed as truly royal and a special attraction for their village.
Another local visitor, Md Kabir, said people usually show their enthusiasm during the World Cup with flags or jerseys, but spending Tk4.5 lakh to build a massive teakwood World Cup bed was rare. He added that the craftsmanship was exceptionally fine and precise.
Visibly emotional, with tears in his eyes, Abdul Ali recalled his youth, when he would sprint with the ball at Rajbari’s Railway field and Sonapur field to the applause of spectators.
“Football is my very breath,” he said, adding that although his skin has wrinkled and his physical strength has declined, his love for football has not aged.
He said he wanted to leave behind a lasting symbol of his lifelong passion before his death.
Drawing on his experience as a timber merchant, Abdul Ali decided to turn his unfulfilled dream into reality using teak wood.
He said the Tk4.5 lakh cost is insignificant when he lies on the 7-foot by 8-foot trophy-shaped bed with his young grandchild, feeling as though all the joy of conquering the world has descended into his room in the twilight of his life.
